Snapshots
December 20, 2006
It was a warm and sunny afternoon on
October 12 when I drove to Steele Creek campground to try and
locate two bluff overlooks on my “must be seen”
list. I started out hiking south along the Buffalo River Trail,
which climbed steeply up a beautifully unique area where both
giant Beeches and pine trees towered above big boulders, with
very little undergrowth. I failed to initially locate the faint
trail leading to Bee Bluff, about a half mile into the hike,
and continued along the trail for at least another 30 minutes.
It was a fortunate mistake, since I got to see many interesting
natural features. But maybe I should save the description of
those for another journal page. I must have been pretty close
to Ponca before I turned around and headed back toward Steele
Creek. This time I found my way to Bee Bluff and was able to
take some shots from the one safe perch large enough for a guy
to sit and enjoy the fantastic view.
Three weeks later, I left work early the
afternoon of Friday, November 3 to head for the river bottoms
outside Mulberry and scout locations to photograph the upcoming
full moon rise. I caught a real winner of a sunset.
The boys had kept asking me when I was
going to take them on another crystal hunt, and they finally
got the answer they wanted on November 12th. The previous week
I’d finally figured out how to get to Crystal Mountain
during a trip along the Winona Scenic Drive, so that would be
our destination. We stopped by the hardware store on the way to
make sure Grant had the same garden fork that Cliff did, then
off we went on the long drive. Of course we stopped at a
convenience store along Highway 7 for candy and drinks.
It was late in the afternoon before we
finally made it to the Crystal Mountain area. After a short but
steep walk up a jeep road we took a few minutes to enjoy the
extraordinary panoramic view of the mountains to the south.
Cliff spotted a tiny corn snake and didn’t hesitate to
pick it up. He wanted to put it in his pocket and bring it home
but I said no.
We really didn’t know how to begin
looking for quartz. There wasn’t much in the way of
disturbed soil or any signs that anybody had been in the area
collecting crystals. I took the lead and went down hill off the
road and started scraping the soil near a couple of boulders.
Soon Cliff got the idea, then Grant took over for me. We found
a few small crystal points, but the boys quickly got
discouraged and started complaining and saying they were ready
to leave. On the walk back toward the truck I spotted a
newly-fallen tree and went over to it and started looking in
the dirt clinging to the roots at the base of the tree. Soon
the boys were all over it, and we wound up with several dozen
small but pristine crystal pieces. Dad had saved the day at the
last moment.
I didn’t take a single picture that
day, but I wanted to include it on this page anyway.
I got up way, way early on Saturday,
November 18 to be at the Bear Hollow overlook at Mount Magazine
by sunrise. Problem was, I got there TOO early and had to take
a nap in the truck while waiting more than half an hour for
sunrise. Then I overslept and woke up to see sunlight hitting
the sides of the trees behind me. I almost started the engine
and drove home, but instead went ahead and got out.
The plan was to hike the Bear Hollow trail
to it’s northern end at Highway 309, then to backtrack to
the truck. When the trail crossed the creek at the middle of
the hollow, I couldn’t help but follow the water down for
a while to explore. It's a pretty little stream.. lots of wide,
flat sections and small drops. After a couple hundred yards I
came to a cascade followed by a sudden 9-foot fall. There
were some nice small bluffs on both sides of the hollow there
as well.
After taking some pictures, I hauled myself
up the steep north side of the hollow, picked up the hiking
trail and managed to complete the day’s goal of hiking
the entire trail.
The next outing of fall was also to Mount
Magazine. The Sunday afternoon after Thanksgiving, Joey and I
rode our mountain bikes along the road going to the western end
of the mountain. Though I had my camera backpack and all my
gear, I wasn’t in a picture-taking mood and never got out
the camera.... which probably explains why I’ve forgotten
too many details about that afternoon. For example, we found
ourselves at a nice rocky overlook on the southwest side of the
mountain. Colorful, dark red huckleberry leaves were low to the
ground everywhere. But I can’t remember exactly where
that spot was, and that just doesn’t happen to me. I know
if I’d taken some pictures, I’d remember how to get
back to that spot. It was probably the same place I visited in
February, 2005.
We found several nice overlooks north of
the radio towers, a couple of which had state park signs
identifying their names. One was named Signal Point, another
Grandview something or other. On the ride back we detoured at a
sign pointing toward Dripping Springs. Once there, Joey
followed a trail down the steep mountainside along the stream,
while I tried to discover the source of the spring above. Most
of the stops we made were places I knew I’d have to come
back to some day, so that I could explore them in much more
detail.
The day ended on a hilarious note as we
were swiftly coasting downhill near the truck. Joey was about a
hundred feet ahead of me, and I caught the flash of deer tails
to his left. Seven or eight deer took flight but headed toward
Joey instead of away. I thought a collision was possible and
kiddingly hollered “Don’t Hit The Deer!”.
The picture at the top of this page was
taken some time after midnight Friday morning, December 15. I
still monitor the conditions for aurora displays, and chances
were high that night. Now, what my eyes saw that night was
nothing... just stars and the hint of gray clouds. But the
camera sees other stuff over the course of a long exposure. I
don’t know if the oranges in the photo, taken at Shores
Lake, are caused by far-off city lights reflecting off of high
altitude clouds or are the result of some geomagnetic
disturbance. There IS a slight touch of green in the clouds.
Whatever; I like the picture so I’m sharing it.
Several times while I was taking pictures
in the dark, the calm silence was shattered by a loud clap! on
the surface of the water; each time I nearly jumped out of my
skin! I imagined it was fish jumping out of the water then
splashing back down. Then I made out the shape of a beaver
moving silently across the smooth lake, with a wake extending
behind it.
Cliff and I returned early Saturday night
because of continued aurora forecasts, but there was no light
show.
Once again, it seems there is at least one
trip every season to Lee Creek park for sunset pictures. These
shots were taken Saturday, December 15... a couple of hours
before Cliff and I drove up to Shores Lake.
